After a sleepless night, the outcome was positive—Su Fang’s life was saved. She lay on the hospital bed, her eyes blank and devoid of light.
It wasn’t until Song Wei entered the ward with a bowl of porridge that Su Fang finally turned her vacant gaze toward her.
Despite staying up all night and into the afternoon, Song Wei looked as energetic as ever.
“I brought you some porridge. Eat a little.”
Su Fang stared at her and suddenly started crying—silent tears filled with untold bitterness.
Song Wei froze. What do I do now? She wasn’t good at comforting people.
Fortunately, Su Fang didn’t require consolation for long. She quickly composed herself and rasped, “Thank you.”
Her voice was hoarse and faint.
Song Wei walked over to feed her the porridge. Su Fang ate in silence, exuding an air of hopelessness. Her sallow, thin appearance was reminiscent of a refugee.
It was hard to imagine this frail figure had once been an idealistic Zhiqing (educated youth sent to the countryside). Life had ground her down to this state.
Despite it being the afternoon of the second day since her rescue, no one from Su Fang’s husband’s family had come to visit.
After finishing the porridge, Song Wei asked, “What are your plans now?”
Su Fang appeared lost and pained. “I don’t know,” she murmured softly. Then, gripping her blanket tightly, she hesitated before continuing: “I… I want to leave.”
Those few words, simple as they were, seemed to cost her an enormous effort. It was a longing buried deep in her heart. But she was also terrified.
Her family had already disowned her, and her weak-willed nature made her feel adrift, like a rootless duckweed.
After speaking, she looked down, unable to meet Song Wei’s gaze.
“I want to leave,” Su Fang repeated, her trembling voice carrying a note of determination.
Song Wei nodded. “Alright, I’ll help you.”
Given Su Fang’s timid personality and current state, she couldn’t possibly escape her in-laws or seek retribution on her own. Everything would have to wait until her health improved.
After feeding Su Fang, Song Wei grabbed two steamed buns and two meat-stuffed buns to eat herself.
As she ate, she became aware of several gazes fixed on her. More specifically, they were focused on the food in her hands.
She glanced up cautiously and saw three little girls staring at her with eager, hungry eyes.
The hospital in this era wasn’t organized like modern facilities, with separate wards for different departments. It was chaotic, with multiple patients crammed into a single room wherever beds were available.
Apart from Su Fang, their ward housed several other patients.
Next to them was a pregnant woman who had earlier complained loudly about Su Fang being “unlucky” for losing her baby. She had demanded to switch beds, only to be scolded by the doctor for her unreasonable request.
She had quieted down after receiving a stern look from Song Wei’s brother, but now that he wasn’t around, her children—three little girls—were in plain view.
The oldest looked to be around seven, while the youngest was about two. All three were malnourished but appeared slightly better off than Su Fang. Their clothes were patched beyond recognition, and the two older girls weren’t even wearing shoes.
They were pitiful, yes—but the world was full of pitiful people, and Song Wei couldn’t save them all.
“Oh, this young lady looks kind heart!”
The children’s grandmother chimed in.
“We’re as poor as dirt, you see. My daughter-in-law’s useless womb only gave us three money-losing girls. There’s barely enough food to go around, which is why these poor kids are so skinny. Miss, I see you have quite a bit in your lunchbox. Couldn’t you spare a little for my granddaughters?”
The old woman’s eyes were fixed on Song Wei’s buns, and it was clear that if it weren’t for appearances, she’d snatch them herself.
She knew how to play the sympathy card, her tone dripping with feigned humility.
Song Wei glanced at her and said coolly, “Don’t you have food?”
She didn’t hate children, but she loathed being guilt-tripped. No one could weaponize morality against her—she had none to spare.
The eldest girl flushed and remained silent.
The middle child, a bit more cunning, looked at her with pitiful eyes. “Pretty sister, I’m so hungry.”
The youngest sniffled and swallowed audibly, her face grubby and unkempt.
Song Wei smiled. “Be good and ask your grandma. I don’t know you.”
The old woman’s expression soured instantly. Hugging her bowl of coarse buns and sweet potatoes, she spat bitterly:
“Hmph! This food is for me and my precious grandson. There’s nothing extra for these useless girls. But you, a single girl, eating so much—why not share? A proper woman should be kind, generous, and considerate. No one likes someone stingy.”
Oh, so now she’s trying to manipulate me?
Song Wei chuckled inwardly. She was born with a rebellious streak.
Had it been someone who cared about appearances, they might’ve succumbed to the old woman’s baiting, handed over their food, and still received no thanks in return. A bad deal, no matter how you looked at it.
Su Fang, lying on the bed, was so furious that she tried to sit up, only for Song Wei to press her back down.
“Rest properly,” Song Wei said, her tone light. “I’ll handle this.”
She turned to the old woman and rejected her bluntly: “Why should I give away my white-flour buns and meat buns? I may be young, but I’m not stupid.”
The old woman wasn’t ready to give up. “You’re and educated youth, aren’t you? Everyone says educated youths are generous. But you’re embarrassing your kind—no sense of responsibility at all. With that attitude, no one’s going to marry you!”
Unfazed, Song Wei took another bite of her bun and responded sincerely: “Granny, how did you manage to get married?”
She tilted her head as if struck by sudden realization.
“Oh, I see! You must’ve been so generous and kind. But if that’s the case, why are your grandkids so skinny? You’ve got food, yet you won’t share it with your own family? Wow, you must only be generous to strangers. That’s… remarkable.”
The room fell silent before several stifled laughs broke the tension. Song Wei’s words, while polite on the surface, carried a cutting undertone.
The old woman’s face darkened. She slammed her bowl onto the table with a loud thud and glared at Song Wei.
“This educated youth is very good at talking. Sure, I’m just an old country woman, but don’t think you can bully me!”
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